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Measurements…

There are many ways to measure success. Materialistic measures are most visibly noticed. We’ve seen, however, this is not an accurate measurement. Unless you know that the person is debt free, pays cash for said materialistic pleasures, lives a complimentary lifestyle portraying character & integrity……this measurement is merely a mirage.

Reading has become one of my favorite pastimes & early in my TEAM LIFE System Book of the Month years, a great book came down that, to date, I normally have in my trunk. The book? Critical Choices, authored by Dan Castro – a fellow Texan. This book portrays choices men & women made against all odds. Many of their choices & creations we continue to enjoy. We travel in airplanes that are not supposed to exist & they just landed on Mars!! We drive Eco-friendly, flex-fueled or electric cars that were laughed at! Many enjoy gadgets preposterous to most cultures & etc. Hotels are built into the atmosphere, or out of ice. Talk about successful accomplishments! Another book of the month that depicts how people pushed through tremendous odds is Dance Until It Rains by author Vic Johnson. As you read, each chapter personally resonates within you .

A more common measurement many of us endure on a regular basis are naysayers or critics. I gauge business ventures on leadership & only surround myself with the best of the best. Why should I consider the number of critics as a measurement? Hope. Yes, that’s right, hope. A critic surfaces when you challenge their belief & will be your best cheerleader. They have to be right regardless of what you can prove. It’s all about them! In the moment, their fury & their hurtful or unnecessary words never sound cheerful or welcome. In the end, when you win, not only did hope in yourself prevail, but there is hope for them. Our worst critics may be family, friends, acquaintances or people you’ve just met. We all have them & lets face it….they’ve been around for eons. Jesus could do nothing in His own home town. He mentioned to the disciples to shake the dust off their feet & walk away from certain circumstances. There is also a scripture that warns us not to give that which is holy to dogs or cast our pearls before swine. People didn’t receive or respect Jesus. They are not always going to receive or respect us regardless if we offer Christianity or business opportunities. Don’t take it personal, but continue to walk in what you feel is worthwhile. Attacks generally don’t happen to people who aren’t attempting to make a difference. Kudos to you!

I like this quote concerning criticism:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt

People may never exhibit the courage to do what you do. Even if it’s just barely tolerance in the beginning, love them anyway. Measure your success, not so much in the number of critics you accrue, but the number you offer hope to in the end.